Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2008

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hearing loss and granted a non-compensable evaluation for residuals of perforated tympanic membrane, left ear. The evidence submitted since the final denial in December 1976 includes a VA examination report linking the veteran's subjective symptoms to both active duty and post-service noise exposures.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's in-service noise exposure is related to his current condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or hypertension that are related to his military service.

The Board has found no evidence linking the veteran's claimed conditions to his active duty service, except for bilateral hearing loss. The current existence of tinnitus and a mental disorder (claimed as nervousness) is not supported by competent medical evidence. Service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that a VA medical examination is needed to determine the etiology of the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as whether any preexisting ear dysfunction increased in severity during service or was incurred during active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral defective hearing and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to exposure to acoustic trauma during military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is able to perform some type of sedentary job with the help of a telephone and talking to people. The Board denied his claim for TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and tinnitus, finding no evidence to support a direct relationship with his military service or any presumptive conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for tinnitus and determined that new and material evidence has been submitted. The veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service, specifically exposure to acoustic trauma from small arms fire and driving in armored personnel carriers.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not file a claim for service connection for tinnitus prior to March 22, 2006. Therefore, he is already given the earliest possible effective date for the award of service connection.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not support service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, or migraine headaches. The appellant's current conditions are not shown to have been incurred during his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher initial evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's appeals for increased ratings for tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, and residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right thigh. The maximum schedular rating available for each condition was assigned.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss disability is attributable to service, while his tinnitus is not. Bilateral hearing loss is granted as a direct result of noise exposure in service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear at a scheduled Travel Board hearing. A new hearing will be scheduled for him.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic tinnitus is related to his service, specifically his combat noise exposure during active duty in Vietnam.

The veteran's service connection claims for stomach disability, low back disability, cervical spine disability, residuals of urethritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses for most of his claimed conditions, and those with current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence linking them to military service or a service-connected disability.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, as they are not of such severity that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.